5. What if your NVME SSD cannot be detected — best practice of macOS installation

Part1: Clean installation of macOS Catalina
1. Download macOS Catalina installer from Mac App Store
2. Put NMVE SSD in an enclosure
3. Erase NVME SSD and run macOS installer
4. Swap the internal SSD after system reboots

Part2: Clone macOS from original Apple SSD
1. Download macOS Catalina installer from Mac App Store
2. Put NMVE SSD in an enclosure
3. Create a USB macOS installer
4. Boot from the USB installer
5. Run disk utility and restore from original SSD
6. Swap the internal SSD after data transfer completes

macOS Install Disk Creator can be download from here:

[machineman]

Wheres the ”ssd cannot be detected” part of the video? This is waste of time if youre searching what the title says… video doesnt answer that question!

[jantestowy]

Great vid helped a lot. I had a problem with late 2013 imac, cos I've upgraded to nvme in a adapter that was supported only under high sierra or higher. No need to disassemble the whole thing just made USB with mojave and the nvme was there.

[cooa]

I followed Part 2 instructions to the end but after I swapped the internal ssd with my new NVME ssd and restart MacBook it’s not recognizing the drive. I took drive out and use it in an enclosure attached to usb and boots and works fine. I have a 2014 MacBook Pro a1398 and using a Crucial NVME with an adapter.

[chickhammond]

hi there, thank you for this great video, i would like to ask a question, why catalina ? is that the only os i can use, ? i have monterey on my ols ssd, and want to upgrade to a 2tb ssd, but when i install the ssd, it is not recognised in disk utility, so i have ordered an external casing, to see if i can format the ssd on that, have a 2015 macbook pro. , any suggestions or advice would be grateful, and again thank you soo much for youre videos, kindest regards from the UK

[djaymigz]

Does it have to be Catalina ? Cause I am running on Monterey using Opencore Legacy patcher

[seanyu]

It works, thanks so much! (2016 MacBook Pro 15, change to Samsung 970 EVo Plus 2T)

[thvardhan]

Nice that's a really great and simple tutorial. Can we run Bootcamp on the upgraded SSD? I've seen on some places they say windows is not supported but I am not convinced.

[ganeshunnam]

This is awesome and it worked for me, this is a hassle free process

[VeveLeyaVali]

i don't have in enclosure, what can i do in this case...

[TELALITcellistandsinger]

how did you find catalina installer in app store? it shows me "no results"

[ricardogarcia]

It did not recognize a Kingston NVME NV2, I already tried both methods but I get "? Folder" (it's a macbook air 2017 A1466)

[epicdk]

Hi Leo, quick question, Im using a 512 Phison and works fine, problem is when I turn on a turned off computer while connected on usb-c. Sometimes its black and displays the ?. If I unplug the cable works fine. Do you know any work around for this? Thank you!

[SAKA-]

so title is nvme cannot be detected yet in this example it is showing in disk utility... what do you do if it is not showing in disk utility?

[KcostaS]

I have a problem with an iMac 2017, I already did everything and I can't find the solution, at first it detected the ssd with the adapter, I have a crucial 1 TB P3, I connect it to the motherboard and when I put the bootable usb with MacOs Ventura does not recognize it internally, if that same ssd I put it externally if the iMac recognizes it, I do the format externally and at the moment of putting it internally it it does not recognize it. I already installed the macOS Ventura by external means and I put it internally and it doesn't recognize it either, I don't know what to do I've been testing for a month and I have to be assembling and disassembling the iMac, I hope someone can help me, The disk utility does not recognize it, I already made the list disk and nothing does not appear the ssd m.2 nvme, I am totally blocked, do I need to do it with high sierra and then update to Ventura?

[abdsamadabdsamad]

Hi, I have used the second solution, and at the first upgrade, big sur 11.2, I lost the nvme at boot, it ISN'T more recognize, any advice please ? I already tried nvram reset

[mariodasilva]

I followed your instructions fully and bought a USB3.1 enclosure for my Transcend JETDRIVE 850 NMVe x4 480GB SSD "FOR MAC". It's for the A1398 model MBP.
I tried everything but it just won't be recognized AT ALL. I paid 299 for this SSD and more for the external enclosure, and i cannot make use of it it at all. WHAT am I doing wrong? Disk utility just does NOT see it. Please tell me.

[dfenc]

APFS is not showing as an option in Disk Utility on my A1708 running Mojave. Any ideas why?

[kingmichaelcoy]

Can I do with Mojave or does it have to be catalina

[Bawsack]

I can’t use my SSD to boot my Mac after cloning it. I have no clue what to do

[epicdk]

I've done this procedure on a SBX Phison ps5013-e13T and a KIOXIA KBG40ZNS256G. With fresh install, and when on boot both shows me a "?" in a folder icon. I don't know what else to do.